John Boyega
Those lips, those eyes, that cleft chin – it’s no wonder that this 24-year-old actor is making women swoon the world over. And he’s been around longer than you may realise: born in the UK to Nigerian parents, John (aka John Adedayo Adegboyega) was already gaining prominence in 2011 for his role in the sci-fi film Attack the Block. He seems to have a thing for outer space, getting his big break in 2015 when he was cast as Finn in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, making him the first black actor to play one of the franchise’s leads. John’s performance received critical acclaim, with the film breaking box office records and thrusting him into the spotlight.
Not one to rest on his laurels, the next year John co-founded the production company Upper Room Productions with British talent agent Femi Oguns, and will be starring in its first film project – a sequel to Guillermo del Toro’s blockbuster Pacific Rim (set for release in 2018). We certainly don’t mind seeing more of this dreamboat, especially in 3D!
Have you returned from a great festive season with a credit card hangover and the determination to get a grip on your finances? Then you’ve come to the right place! In this exclusive, life coach Donna Mccallum, aka the fabulous Fairy Godmother, shares lessons from her Money Magic programme, which has helped thousands of clients shift from debt and scarcity into financial security and freedom. Read on for amazing tips – and more on Money Magic.
Measure what you do with your money GLAMOUR
What is the first thing a trainer does when you start a fitness programme? They take your measurements. And it’s just the same with money. Do you really know where your cash goes at the end of the month or do you regularly have more month than money? Many people believe the solution to their financial problems is more money, but the true solution is to manage what you have and that starts with learning where your cash goes. Exercise Start a money diary or download a money tracker app on your phone, and note every single thing you spend on. At the end of the month, review your list: the key to becoming wealthy is being able to manage your finances, and seeing where cash goes will help you spend and save better. This exercise isn’t meant to constrain you, but when you notice that you’re spending R500 on coffee, for example, you’ll be able to make better choices. It’s easy to underestimate how much you spend on day-to-day things, so you need to keep track and to tweak your lifestyle accordingly.
Got debt? Pay off more than the minimum
Debt feels as heavy and horrible as unwanted kilos, and South Africans are the world’s biggest borrowers, with 86% of us in debt. The solution: commit to paying off more than the minimum amount. Not only will the debt disappear sooner, but you will also save yourself masses in interest fees. Exercise Imagine you have a R6 600 debt at a 16% interest rate. Paying off the minimum balance (2%) will get you out of this debt in 30 years and you’ll have paid R13 000 in interest payments. Double the minimum payment and you would be out of this debt in two years and seven months, and you would have only paid R1 351 in interest! If you can’t double the payment, increase it in any way you can – even if it’s just by a few rands, paying more than the minimum amount will make a huge difference to your finances. When money comes in that you weren’t expecting, use 30% for debt repayment, 30% for savings, 30% on yourself and donate 10%. You’ve paid towards your debt, saved and given money away, so you’ll feel amazing when you spend the extra 30% on that pair of shoes you love.
Cut up those cards
If you were on a diet, you wouldn’t keep sweets in your house, and the same principle applies to debt. Having store and credit cards means you regularly face the temptation of swiping, and will live with the debt consequences later. Exercise Cutting up your cards is the best solution, but if that feels too drastic, leave them at home and only take cash when you’re shopping. Or put your card in a can, fill it with water and put it in the freezer. You can defrost it for emergencies, but this will take time so you won’t be able to just grab it impulsively.
Get a money mentor
If you want to get your body into shape, you educate yourself and you consult a pro. Ditto with finance. Most of us lack real education about money and have inherited false, limiting beliefs about wealth, like “You have to have money to make money.” Break that pattern by educating yourself and consulting the pros in order to make 2017 the year when you learn about money.
To begin with, books are a great resource, and two excellent ones are The Richest Man in Babylon by George Clason ( Penguin Putnam Inc; R160) and The Road to Wealth Revised by Suze Orman ( Riverhead Books; R397). You can also watch free videos on the Fairy Godmother’s Youtube channel to help get this area of your life on track. Exercise Keep a money journal and make notes for future reference. It also helps to have a money buddy, so find a friend who also wants to learn about finances or shift debt, and set monthly money dates to support each other and follow up on progress.
Finally, find someone in your life who understands money and has built wealth, and ask them to be your money mentor. The aim is to get direction and education from somebody who has already done what you want to do. Ask if you can meet once a month to share what you’re learning and to learn from them. It’s all about guidance.
/ Fashion insights
Paul “Not at all. I like women who are active. Long nails would imply a degree of vanity and fussiness that would lead me to believe she’s not open to getting her hands dirty.” Kevin “Long nails are kind of cool, but it wouldn’t bother me either way.” Alton “No, I don’t like long nails.” Wesley “Not hot.” Gareth “Yes. I like it when a women takes care of her hands.” Paul “I like it! It shows more personality.” Kevin “It’s cute when women match their nails with their outfits.” Alton “Yes, it’s lovely.” Wesley “As long as it’s not in neon colours it looks cute. It shows that she takes care of her appearance.” Gareth “Too much.” Paul “Never – not even on model Gigi Hadid.” Kevin “Unless you’re a dancer or something, it’s not a great look.” Alton “I like it.” Wesley “That’s a no from me.” Paul “Matte.” Kevin “Definitely matte.” Alton “Matte.” Wesley “Definitely matte.” Gareth “Nude looks nice.” Paul “Red.” Kevin “Nude. Red is nice if it’s being worn for an occasion.” Alton “Nude.” Wesley “Nude – I’m always after a more natural look.” Gareth “I like the liner. It brings out the eyes nicely.” Paul “I prefer a bare lid, but perhaps I’m not seeing the major difference.” Kevin “No liquid liner.” Alton “I prefer the bare eye.” Wesley “The liquid liner is sexier.” Gareth “I like the natural wavy look.” Paul “Wavy.” Kevin “I like straight hair.” Alton “I don’t mind.” Wesley “Definitely like hair with a wave in it.”
hat are you worried about right now? That your salary is too low? That you might get caught up in a terrorist attack? We know, because we asked over 1 000 GLAMOUR readers to answer a worry survey. It seems we are a generation of mega worriers. So, what’s causing it? Negative headlines and creeping loneliness, according to psychologist Dr Richard Gilpin, author of Mindfulness for Unravelling Anxiety ( The Ivy Press; R183). “We are bombarded with stories of war and destruction. In addition, eroded traditional community structures leave people feeling isolated and alienated.”
The good news? We’re in this together – and here, our team of experts show you how to calm that inner voice. Money worries were cited by 54% of you. This will surprise no one, given that one bedroom apartments now seem to cost around as much as luxury yachts on the French Riviera. “I’m embarrassed I’m still flat-sharing, but I can’t afford a bond, because the market is so high. I feel like it’s all too late for me,” says Anjali, 33.
OK, so there’s no overnight solution for rising house prices, but with 66% of money worriers citing lack of savings as their biggest headache (strike that – migraine), there is something you can do to act as an instant painkiller: “Tracking your expenses will give you a level of control and empowerment over your goals around money, and reclaiming one’s own power is essential for any type of anxiety,” advises psychotherapist Samantha Carbon. “Review your expenses with someone you trust and set yourself one goal – for example, saving a set amount for Christmas.” Nicky Lidbetter, CEO of Anxiety UK, a charity that supports those affected by anxiety disorders, agrees: “One of the best things you can do is make sure you are proactive.”